Attacks on Health Care June 2021 Monthly News Brief

Insecurity Insight publishes data on incidents where health workers were killed, kidnapped or arrested (KKA) and incidents where health facilities were damaged or destroyed by a perpetrator including state and non-state actor groups, criminals, individuals, students and other staff members. Access the data via our website or on HDX or on our global health map.

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No Respite: Violence Against Health Care in Conflict

The 2021 Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition's report documents 806 incidents of violence against or obstruction of health care in 43 countries and territories in 2020. Health workers were killed, kidnapped, injured and assaulted and health facilities and transport damaged and destroyed.

Access the data via Attacks on Health Care in Countries in Conflict on HDX.

Factsheets and individual datasets are available for: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, CAR, DRC, , Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nagorno-Karabakh, Nigeria, oPt, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

SHCC Attacks on Health Care The section aligns with the definition of attacks on health care used by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC). Africa Burkina Faso 05 June 2021: In Solhan village and department, Yagha province, Sahel region, a dispensary, houses, a market, and a school were set on fire by unidentified perpetrators, killing more than 138 people. Source: RFI

12 June 2021: Near Dablo town, Dablo department, Barsalogho commune, Sanmatenga province, two health workers were abducted by suspected Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin' (JNIM) militants. Both were later released. Sources: ACLED1 and Infowakat

Central African Republic 05 June 2021: In Elevage IDP camp, Bambari town, Ouaka prefecture, an MSF-supported health post to treat malaria as well as tents and shops were burnt and destroyed during fighting between armed groups and government forces. Source: MSF and MSF Western & Central Africa

24 June 2021: Near Batangafo town, Ouham prefecture, two motorcycle riders hired by MSF were caught in an armed ambush as they were accompanying a patient being transported by MSF staff.

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A female caretaker was shot and killed, and one motorcyclist, as well as two patients - a woman and her baby - were wounded. Sources: Al Jazeera and MSF Western & Central Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo 28 May 2021: In Djugu territory, Ituri province, unidentified perpetrators attacked the base camp of an INGO, prompting the organisation to suspend its health project in the area. Sources: ECHO and OCHA

07 June 2021: In Boga village, Irumu territory, Ituri province, suspected ADF militants burned down the MSF-supported General Referral Hospital and looted medical supplies during a wider assault on the village. Sources: Actualité, Garda, MSF, MSF DRC, Radio Okapi, and Twitter. In 2020, the SHCC documented 22 incidents where health facilities were damaged or destroyed in the DRC.

15 June 2021: In Fataki locality, Ituri province, CODECO rebels attacked and looted the main hospital of the commercial centre, carrying away drugs and beds. Source: HumAngle

28-29 June 2021: In Mangango village, near Mangina commune, Beni territory, North Kivu province, armed perpetrators kidnapped two nurses while working at the local health centre. One nurse was released a few hours later. Source: Radio Moto

Ethiopia As reported on 07 June 2021: In town, Misraqawi zone, , Eritrean soldiers occupied Hawzen Primary Hospital. The hospital was left trashed and stones littered the compound where fighters had set up defensive positions. Source: Associated Press

22 June 2021: In Togoga town, Southeastern zone, Tigray region, Ethiopian soldiers prevented medical care from reaching a market that had been hit by a missile, for more than a day, halting assistance to hundreds injured. At least 64 people, including children, were left dead. In one instance, they turned away an ambulance as it tried to reach the scene, ordering it to get a letter of authorisation from the provisional administration, however, when the ambulance returned with the letter, the same army officers requested another letter from the regional president, which the medical team could not practically obtain. In another instance, soldiers fired at an ambulance when it tried to pass a checkpoint. A Red Cross ambulance was also shot at twice by Ethiopian soldiers, who held a doctor and his team for 45 minutes, before ordering them back to Mekele. On another occasion, soldiers blocked a convoy of four ambulances attempting to evacuate wounded victims to hospitals in Mekele, ordering it to return to Togoga. One patient died as a result. Sources: AP I, AP II, BBC, The New York Times, Twitter and VOA

22 June 2021: In Mekele city and special zone, Tigray region, six wounded survivors of the Togoga airstrike were detained whilst en route to a hospital. Three were released later, but the others, including a teenage boy, were held at a military barracks. Sources: AP and BBC

24 June 2021: In Abiy Addi town, Central zone, Tigray region, three MSF staffers — namely the emergency coordinator, a Spanish woman; a coordination assistant, an Ethiopian man; and their driver, also an Ethiopian national — went missing while travelling. The next day they were found dead a few metres from their empty vehicle. Sources: Doctors Without Borders, France 24, MSF, South China Morning Post ,Tapei Times,The Irish Times, The New Arab and VOA

Mali 08 June 2021: At Hourara village, Ansongo commune, Gao region, eight INGO health workers, three of whom are females, were abducted from a health centre by armed men believed to be ISWAP militants. All were released on 28th June. Sources: ACLED1, GARDA World, Studio Tamani I, and Studio Tamani II

13 June 2021: In Gao city, Gao region, armed perpetrators hijacked a hospital ambulance. Source: Studio Tamani

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2 24 June 2021: In Kirchamba village, Dire circle, Tombouctou region, two male Malian INGO workers on a vaccination campaign were kidnapped. Sources: ACLED1 and AWSD2

27 June 2021: In Kadial locality, Togoro Kotya commune, Mopti region, a male aid worker was abducted by armed men while on board a transport truck. Source: L’essor mali

Nigeria 18 June 2021: In Salka village, Magama LGA, Niger state, suspected armed Fulani bandits abducted a doctor and owner of a health facility, killing him and hiding his body in a bush. Sources: Cowry News, Golden News and Tribune Online. In 2020, 18 health workers were kidnapped in Nigeria. Doctors and nurses have reportedly left their clinical positions and others have gone on strike in response to the targeted kidnapping of physicians.

25 June 2021: In Kaduna state, bandits kidnapped a nurse and several other passengers aboard a commercial vehicle along the Kachia-Kaduna Road. Source: Daybreak

South Sudan 07 June 2021: On the Mapourdit-Aluakluak Road, Yirol West county, Lakes state, cattle keepers killed two South Sudanese aid workers from the INGO Doctors with Africa CUAMM in a vehicle ambush as they returned from a health facility. Two other aid workers were wounded after their vehicle veered off the road. Sources: ACLED1, AWSD2, Eye Radio, Medici Con L’Africa, OCHA, Radio Miraya, Radio Tamazuj, South Sudan NGO Forum and VOA

13 June 2021: In Chukudum town, Budi County, Eastern Equatoria State, gunmen shot and killed a male health worker. Source: Radio Tamazuj

14 June 2021: Update: In Ganyiel Payam county, Unity state, police arrested two suspects over the killing of a doctor on 21 May. Their apprehension came after authorities announced that the victim died of repetitive cuts to the neck and stab wounds to the arms. Source: Eye Radio Asia Afghanistan 12 June 2021: In Kabul, the Islamic State bombed a minivan in front of the Muhammad Ali Jinnah Hospital, where COVID-19 patients are being treated. Sources: The Khaama Press and The New Arab

13 June 2021: In Kabul, a doctor working in a military hospital was killed by IS militants. Source: ACLED1

15 June 2021: In three different locations across Jalalabad city, Nangarhar province, gunmen across the city launched a coordinated attack, killing five polio vaccinators and injuring at least four more, two of whom were left in critical condition. Sources: New Age, Riverine Herald, Social Swagstar, The Khaama Press, The Telegraph, Tolo, UN and UN News Service

15 June 2021: In PD1 area, Farah city, a doctor was killed in front of his residence by two gunmen on motorcycles. Source: ACLED1

23 June 2021: In Kunar province, suspected Taliban fighters fired a rocket into a hospital, sparking a blaze that caused extensive damage and loss of crucial supplies, including COVID-19 vaccines. Source: Reuters

Myanmar We are continuing to monitor the situation in Myanmar. You can download data on HDX - updated to cover 11-February-11 June 2021.

Pakistan 09 June 2021: In Mardan district and division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, motorcycle-borne gunmen shot dead two police officers as they returned to the police station, after providing security

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3 to polio vaccination workers on duty. To protect some 270,000 polio field staff from increasing attacks, the Pakistan Government suspended its nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign. Sources: Al Jazeera and Hindustan Times Europe Ukraine 21 June 2021: In Lazove village, Donetsk oblast, a grenade launcher hit an ambulance as it was evacuating the wounded amid clashes between Ukrainian troops and separatist fighters. Source: New Age Middle East and North Africa Iraq 31 May 2021: In Hilla city, Babil province, the Marjan Hospital was stormed and two health workers stabbed by unidentified perpetrators. Source: ACLED1

Libya 03 June 2021: In town, Al Wahat district, region, an aid volunteer was abducted by gunmen in a vehicle ambush. Sources: ABC and UNSMIL

As reported on 22 June 2021: In , persistent violent incidents against asylum seekers and refugees by guards at the Mabani and Abu Salim detention centres, as well as the risk to staff safety led MSF to temporarily suspend its services at the facilities. Sources: MSF, The Guardian, The New Arab I and The New Arab II

Occupied Palestinian Territories 09 June 2021: In Ramallah city, Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate, West Bank, Israeli forces raided the headquarters of the Palestinian Union of Health Workers Committee, breaking down the door, confiscating computers and memory drives, and issuing a military order forcing the office to close for six months. Sources: Al Jazeera, Medact and People’s Health Movement

16 June 2021: In Hizma town, Jerusalem governorate, Israeli forces shot and killed a female doctor. Source: Twitter

21 June 2021: In Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, East Jerusalem, West Bank, Israeli settlers hurled stones at several ambulances amid clashes with Palestinians. Source: Al Jazeera

22 June 2021: In Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, East Jerusalem, West Bank, Israeli forces sprayed skunk water on an ambulance belonging to the Red Crescent emergency services, as Israeli settlers attacked a second ambulance. Source: The New Arab

25 June 2021: In Kafr Qaddum village, Qalqilya governorate, West Bank, a paramedic was injured by rubber-coated rounds fired by Israeli forces whilst providing aid to people wounded during protests against the construction of settlements in the area. Source: The New Arab

Syrian Arab Republic 03 June 2021: On the Tafas-Mzeireb road, Dar'a governorate, an ambulance driver was shot and injured by gunmen. Source: ACLED1

12 June 2021: In Afrin city and district, Aleppo governorate, two missiles from the direction of areas where government troops and Kurdish-led fighters were deployed hit the SAMS-supported Al-Shifa Pediatrics and Maternity Hospital, killing at least 18 people, including a doctor, three female medics, two ambulance drivers, three women, and a child. Additionally, 23 more were injured, some seriously, including 11 hospital staff and three White Helmets volunteers. The emergency department and maternity ward were completely destroyed and the outpatient department sustained significant damage, rendering the hospital out of service. An ambulance was also damaged amid the debris. An earlier missile strike hit within 100 metres of the hospital. Sources: ABC, Airwars, Care, France 24, Mercy Corps, New Age, Reuters, SAMS USA, SNHR, The New Arab I, The New Arab II, The White Helmets, UN News and UPI

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19 June 2021: In Qastoun village, All-Ziyarag sub-district, Al-Suqaylabiyah district, Hama governorate, Syrian and Russian shelling destroyed parts of a Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) centre, killing one volunteer paramedic and injuring three more. The facility was put out of service. Sources: The New Arab and The White Helmets

Yemen As reported on 01 June 2021: In Sanaa and rebel-held parts of northern governorates, Houthi authorities have been blocking international efforts to supply COVID-19 vaccines, and suppressing information about the prevalence and dangers of the virus. Source: The New Arab

05 June 2021: In Ar Rawdah neighborhood, Marib city and governorate, two ambulances were hit by drone strikes while responding to a fire caused by missiles at a fuel station. Source: CIMP The Americas Brazil As reported on 08 June 2021: In Manaus city, Amazonas state, North region, a wave of vandalism and violence following the death of an alleged leader of a drug trafficking ring in a shootout with police has prompted health authorities to suspend the region’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign and close vaccine sites owing to a fear of attacks. Source: AP

Haiti 02-04 June 2021: In Martissant neighbourhood, Port-au-Prince, armed perpetrators robbed two MSF ambulance drivers, alongside other vehicles travelling in the area. Sources: MSF I and MSF II

02-04 June 2021: In Martissant neighbourhood, Port-au-Prince, clashes broke out near the MSF emergency centre and offices, where staff had to take cover from stray bullets. Sources: MSF I and MSF II

26-27 June 2021: In Martissant neighbourhood, Port-au-Prince, gang members fired several bursts of gunfire in the direction of an MSF emergency centre, causing no injuries or fatalities. In response, MSF evacuated its staff and patients, and immediately suspended activities for the subsequent week. Source: Miami Herald

Global Health Insecurity These events go beyond the definition used by the SHCC to cover a wider range of events that affect the provision of health care including events perpetrated by patients or relatives of patients, private individuals and criminals as well as significant strike action or protests by health care personnel. Asia India 30 May 2021: In Balewadi town, Pune city, Maharashtra state, two doctors were attacked by a police constable and his brother at a police station after the doctors tried to register a police complaint against them for harassing them at a COVID-19 care centre. Source: ACLED1

31 May 2021: In Ganje village, Palghar district, Maharashtra state, nine villagers beat a team of five personnel of the Durvesh Primary Health Centre, including a doctor, whilst they visited the area for a COVID-19 awareness programme. The perpetrators also vandalised the team’s jeep. Police have arrested two involved in the attack, and launched a manhunt to apprehend the other seven. Source: Press Trust of India

01 June 2021: In Pub Udali village, Lanka tehsil, Nagaon district, Assam state, a junior doctor was kicked and beaten with brooms and utensils by a mob of 24 relatives of a COVID-19 patient, after the latter died at the Udali Model Hospital reportedly due to oxygen shortage. The next day, doctors

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5 boycotted the outpatient department service in protest against the assault. Sources: India Today I, India Today II, India Today III, NDTV and The Indian Express

As reported on 25 June 2021: In Mumbai city and district, Konkan district, Maharashtra state, around 2,000 people have been injected with fake COVID-19 vaccines at nine different locations. Police have since arrested 10 of the conmen, including two private doctors. Source: New Age

As reported on 25 June 2021: In Calcutta city and district, Presidency division, West Bengal state, at least 250 people have been injected with counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines by a man posing as a qualified civil servant who ran eight spurious vaccination camps. Source: New Age

Mexico 19 June 2021: In Reynosa city and municipality, Tamaulipas state, gunmen in vehicles killed 14 people, including a nursing student and taxi drivers. Four suspects died as security forces responded. Sources: AP and New Age Europe Malta 01 June 2021: In Msida town, Northern Harbour district, Central region, tensions flared at the COVID-19 vaccination hall at the University of Malta, as a small group of people without an appointment entered and demanded to be given a one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Source: Lovin Malta

The Netherlands 04 June 2021: In Rotterdam-West neighbourhood, Rotterdam city, South Holland province, a 24- year-old opened the door of an ambulance and punched a paramedic on board, as he and his colleagues were responding to a call. Police arrested the perpetrator at the scene. Source: Rijnmond

This Monthly News Brief comprises threats and violence as well as protests and other events affecting the delivery of and access to health care. It is part of the Attacks on Health Care project by Insecurity Insight. It is prepared from information available in local, national and international news outlets and online databases. The incidents reported are not a complete nor a representative list of all events that affected the provision of health care and have not been independently verified. All decisions made, on the basis of, or with consideration to, such information remains the responsibility of their respective organisations.

This document is funded and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK government through the RIAH project at the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute at the University of Manchester, and by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Insecurity Insight and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the U.S. Government, or Save the Children Federation, Inc.

Insecurity Insight. 2021. Attacks on Health Care Monthly News Brief, June 2021. Switzerland: Insecurity Insight.

1 Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) database attribution policy. Accessed 07 July 2021. WHO SSA reported incidents in June 2021 This table shows the number of incidents reported by the WHO Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) in countries monitored by the Safeguarding Health Care in Conflict Coalition (SHCC). Incidents are broken down by attack type.

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6 # of reported # of reported # of reported # of reported incidents incidents incidents

incidents impacting health impacting health impacting health facilities workers transport

Afghanistan 6 1 3 1 Burkina Faso 2 1 2 2 CAR 12 3 9 4 DRC 2 2 1 1 Libya 1 1 Mali 2 2 Myanmar 13 3 7 4 oPt 10 10 South Sudan 2 1 1 Sudan 1 1 Syria 1 1 1 Total 52 13 37 12

Date period: June 2021. Data accessed: 16 July 2021.

See SHCC Methodology for information on how the SHCC uses this data. This information may change as the WHO SSA is updated.

Insecurity Insight – Monitoring incidents around the world affecting aid, health care, education, and protection.

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